The Tower on ITV cast: Who plays DC Steve Bradshaw and which TV shows have you seen Jimmy Akingbola in before?
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Jimmy Akingbola shines as DC Steve Bradshaw in ITV’s new drama The Tower

He starred with Brenda Blethyn on ITV only last year

New ITV drama The Tower boasts a seriously impressive cast, including Jimmy Akingbola as DC Steve Bradshaw.

DC Bradshaw is DS Sarah Collins’ colleague initially called to an alarming incident at Portland Tower.

In the first episode, Directorate of Special Investigations officer Steve is the one who discovers PC Lizzie Adama has disappeared.

Here’s where you’ve seen actor Jimmy Akingbola on television before…

Jimmy Akingbola and Gemma Whelan star in The Tower
Jimmy Akingbola and Gemma Whelan star in The Tower (Credit: ITV)

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Who stars as DC Steve Bradshaw in The Tower?

Jimmy Akingbola stars in The Tower as DC Steve Bradshaw.

He tells us: “Steve is very sharp, and he sees everything.

“He has got a great relationship with Sarah, what she has had to overcome to get where she is and what he’s had to overcome – that’s what brings those two together.

“I think him and Sarah were not necessarily the cool kids at school. They were a little bit slightly off-centre.

“I think they can see a bit of themselves in each other.”

What has The Tower actor Jimmy Akingbola been in before?

Jimmy has extensive theatrical acting experience.

He’s performed for the likes of the Birmingham Rep, the National Theatre, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the Sheffield Crucible and London’s Donmar Warehouse.

The actor has trodden the boards in main roles opposite acting greats such as Ian McKellen, Riz Ahmed, Leslie Phillips and Endeavour’s Shaun Evans.

Jimmy also has a wealth of experience onscreen, in film and television.

However, it is for some of his TV roles that viewers are most likely to remember him.

He had a memorable stint on Holby City as the volatile Antoine Malick, introduced in 2011 around the same time as Henrik Hanssen.

Jimmy also put in a tremendous comic performance as crackhead Mick opposite Tom Hollander and Olivia Colman in Rev.

Death in Paradise fans will also remember him from a 2014 episode of the BBC murder mystery series.

And last year saw him star with Brenda Blethyn in ITV sitcom Kate & Koji.

Other small screen roles include appearances in The Royal, New Tricks, Twenty Twelve and US superhero series Arrow.

As registrar Antoine Malick in Holby City
Jimmy Akingbola as registrar Antoine Malick in Holby City (Credit: BBC)

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What is The Tower star Jimmy Akingbola in next?

Jimmy will next reprise his role of Valentine in series three of In the Long Run with Idris Elba.

He’ll follow that with Ted Lasso for Apple TV+.

How old is Jimmy Akingbola and where is he from?

Jimmy was born in east London in 1978.

He is currently 42 years of age.

His parents emigrated to the UK from Nigeria and have Yoruba tribe heritage.

Jimmy trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in Wandsworth, south west London.

The Tower begins on ITV on Monday November 8 at 9pm.

Are you excited to watch The Tower on ITV1? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Robert Leigh
Freelance writer